A321LR prepares for Paris-New York test flight

Airbus is to conduct the first transatlantic test flight of its A321LR tomorrow, with the aircraft operating from Paris Le Bourget airport to New York JFK.

The aircraft, powered by two CFM International Leap-1A engines, carried out its maiden flight on 31 January.

Airbus is aiming the jet at customers seeking a long-range single-aisle aircraft, pitching the A321LR as a replacement for the Boeing 757-200.

The transatlantic test flight, confirmed by the airframer for 13 February, will be part of the certification programme.

Airbus says MSN7877 will have only two of the three additional centre tanks installed for this initial crossing. But the airframer intends to carry out certification flights with a third tank at a later date.

It points out that, as part of the certification, it must test the aircraft in various configurations, with one, two, three, or none of the tanks fitted.

Airbus is aiming for certification of the A321LR – which will have a range of up to 4,000nm – by the second quarter of this year.